Manifolding device



June 27, I939. G.'U. LA CROIX V 2,163,990

' MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed Jam B, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Games a [ACROIX BY w mmxm ATTOR June 27, 1939. LA c ojx 2,163,990

' MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 8, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 620/? U [A CROIX BY WWW %.V. ATTORNEYS June 27, 1939. u, LA cRo|x I 2,163,990

MANIFOLDING DEVI CE Filed Jan. 8, 1937 -3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 6501862? U ZAcWaLr I d /Wu M Dam;

ATTOR EYS Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE/- Application January 8,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a manifolding device for continuous form salesbooks.

Salesbooks of this type aremade up of two or more superposed continuous sheets or strips of paper provided with perforated or weakened transverse lines at equal intervals and folded zigzag on said lines to form a pad which is com monly known as a fold pack or flat pack. Generally, upon each of these strips of paper is printed a series of forms of account consecutively numbered, whereby a record of sales may be recorded, the idea being that the form upon one of the superposed strips of paper is for delivery to the customer and the correspondingly numbered form upon another strip is intended as an ofiice record of the transaction; and, if there is a third form, that may beheld available later for audit or reference purposes. If further copies are required, a correspondingly increased number of strips of paper are used. Ordinarily, salesbooks of this character are used in manifolding machines commonly known as autographic registers, adapted to be placed on a counter or other support in a more or less permanent location. In these machines, a fiat pack is placed in the bottom of the machine and the ends of the superposed strips are fed over the top of the register, which forms a writing table, by suitable feeding means generally operated by a crank. Carbon sheets are interposed transversely between the sheets on the writing table for reproducing on the copy sheets any matter written on the top record sheet, and, after a transaction has been completed, the superposed sheets are fed forward between the carbon sheets to bring a new set of forms upon the writing table, and the used forms are then torn off along weakened lines. It is necessary that the strips of paper on the writing table be in perfect alignment, that is to say, the forms upon the underlying strips of paper bearing the same number as the top form, must be in alignment or registration one to the other, so that any inscription made on the upper form on the writing table will be transferred with exactness in all respects to the same numbered underlying forms.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a manifolding device for continuous form salesbooks, which is small, compact and portable, and which may be handled with the same ease and facility as the ordinary salesbook mounted in a cover.

Another object of the invention is the provision in the device of a writing table over which the superposed strips may, when necessary, be

1937, Serial No. 119,594

drawn with ease and facility to bring a new set of forms in position for writing.

A further object is the provision of means whereby the forms upon the writing table, when drawn forward, are always in perfect register so that any inscription made on the upper form will be transferred with exactness to the underlying forms.

Another object is to provide means for supporting the carbon sheets so that they may be easily and quickly renewed when necessary and which will facilitate the threading of the strips between the carbon sheets.

A further object in this connection is the provision of carbon supporting means so formed as to permit the use in the device of a series of superposed continuous strips fanfolded on longitudinal lines.

Other and further objects will be apparent in the following specification and claims. 20

My invention contemplates a small, compact manifolding device, comprising a pair of members mounted in a book cover and adapted to form a magazine for holding a flat pack, the upper of said members being adapted to serve as a writing table over which the ends of the superposed strips from the pack within the magazine are laid in position for writing, with the strips locked against forward movement by the engagement of a fold against the edge of the head end of the upper member.

The two members are so connected together that the upper member may be raised from the lower member while maintaining its parallel relation thereto whenever a suificient pull is exerted on the ends of the strips lying on the writing table, and, thereby, the folds which look the strips against the top edge of the upper member are opened up to permit the strips to be drawn forward to bring a new set of forms over the writing table. Suitable resilient means is provided for holding the two members normally in a closed position and for returning the upper member into closed position after the folds have been released in order to lock the next succeeding folds against the top end of the writing table, after which the used set of forms may be torn off along a fold line. So long as the two members are in closed position, the strips are locked by the fold against forward movement. 50

Preferably, the connecting means are so arranged as to be detachable at one end of the device to permit the upper member to be raised at that end on the connecting means at the other end as a pivot to allow a fold pack to be inserted in the magazine and the ends of the strips to be adjusted over the head end of the upper member in position for writing.

Another feature of my invention resides in detachably mounting on the top face of the upper member one or more carbon sheets for interposition between the continuous strips for reproducing on the underneath strip or strips Whatever is written on the top strip. The strips are drawn forward without disturbing the carbon sheets so that they may be used for a series of writings, and the carbons are so mounted that they may be easily and quickly renewed when used up.

Another feature of my invention consists in providing a modified form of carbon sheet holder which permits fanfold continuous form salesbooks to be used in my device without requiring any other changes or adjustments.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a manifolding device constructed in accordance with my invention and mounted in a book cover which is shown in open position;

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are sectional views substantially on line A-A of Fig. l, the book cover being omitted, and respectively showing the normal and two successive positions of the parts in the operation of the device;

Fig. 5 is a View in perspective of the manifolding device with the head piece in retracted posi tion;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding to Fig. 5, with parts broken away to show details of the construction;

Fig. 7 is a similar fragmentary plan view with parts broken away showing the manner of securing the carbons in place for fanfold record strips;

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the upper portion of a carbon sheet showing the means for attaching the latter when plain record strips are used;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the carbon holder used for fanfold strips and the manner of attaching the carbon thereto; and

Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive are diagrammatic views showing the successive steps in a complete cycle of the operation.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates a book cover structure in which the manifolding device of my invention may be mounted. This cover comprises a front panel II and a rear panel 12, connected by a back panel l3 of suitable width to accommodate the structure later described. It will be understood that the cover panels are hinged together in book fashion in any of the usual Ways of constructing book covers.

The manifolding device is secured to the rear panel !2 by any suitable means and comprises a base member M, to which the other parts are attached. Member i4 is constructed of metal and preferably takes the form of a channel having a bottom l5 and upstanding sides IS. The channel member l4 forms the lower portion of a box-like magazine for the record strips, the upper portion of which is formed by a channel member I! opening downwardly and comprising a top or table portion l8 having downwardly extending sides E9. The foot of member I4 is connected to the foot of member I! by a curved plate hinged at 2| to member l4 and at 22 to member The head end of member I4 is hinged at 23 to a plate 24, which, in turn, is hinged at 25 to portion 26 of a head piece 21, best shown in Fig. 5. The head piece 2! serves, among other functions later set forth, to releasably connect plate 24 to the head end of member l1, and comprises, in addition to portion 26, a portion 28 bent at right angles thereto and provided at its ends with side members or ears 29. The ears 29 are provided with openings or outwardly struck recesses 30 (see Fig. 5), which, when the parts are swung to the full line position of Fig. 2, snap over projections 3| formed in the enlarged end portions 32 of sides I!) of member I! to releasably connect plate 24 to the latter member.

The curved foot plate 20 is provided with downwardly extending flanges 33 flared at 34 to overlap the adjacent ends of flanges l9 completing the closure of the foot of the magazine.

The ends of side members l6 are provided, adjacent hinge 23, with pieces 35 riveted or otherwise secured thereto, which, when the magazine is closed,.as in Figs. 2 and 5, engage within the top flanges I!) to steady the structure and by engaging the under side of table l8 give support to the latter when in normal position.

Slots 36 (Fig. 7) are formed in the upper channel member adjacent its edges through which extend carbon retaining loops 38, formed on plate members 39 riveted or otherwise secured to the inner faces of the enlarged portions 32 of member 11. When rivets are used, their heads may conveniently provide the projections 3| previously referred to. The lower edges of members 39 by their engagement with back panel l2 of the book cover furnish additional support to the upper channel member. Additional slots 40 are formed in member l1, adjacent to and in part opening into slots 36, for a purpose later described.

As will be apparent from Figs. 2, 3, and 4, when head piece 2'! is connected to member II, as shown in these figures, plates 20 and 24 form a parallel linkage, permitting member ll to be raised from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3. Secured to the inner face of member l5, adjacent hinge 23, is a stop member 42, which limits the parallel movement of member I! to the position shown in Fig. 3. Associated with hinge 23, is a spring 43 which resists upward movement of plate 24 and tends to keep the parts in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5.

The table portion l8 of member I! is cut away at 44 to provide a space through which record strips positioned in the magazine may be drawn as later described. A plate 45 formed with a bead 46 is riveted to the under side of member l8 adjacent the space 44 to give a rounded contour to the under side of the edge portion of member I8.

When the head piece is detached from member I1 and swung back about hinge 25, as shown in Fig. 5 (and in dotted line in Fig. 2), member I! can be swung upwardly as shown in dotted line in Fig. 2, to permit a pack of record strips, indicated at 50 in Fig. 10, to be placed in the magazine, with the top edge of the pack resting against the stop member 42. The pack 50 is made up of a plurality of strips folded in zigzag fashion in a well-known manner. The strips making up the multi-ply strip may be entirely free from each other, or the multi-ply strip may be formed by fanfolding a wide strip so that each ply is connected along one longitudinal edge to the ply above or below it, or the pack may be made up of a combination of both separate and fanfold plies.

Assuming first, for simplicity of description, that the multi-ply strip is made up of two separate strips, and assuming that the pack has been placed in the magazine as above described, the plies are successively brought around the top edge of table l8, as shown in Fig. 5, the two strips being indicated at a and b. Between the strips, a carbon sheet is positioned. Carbon sheet 0 is provided with means for holding it in position between the strips, and, as shown in Figs. and 8, this means comprises a stiff paper of cardboard header d secured to the upper edge of the sheet and having extending portions 6. In practice, the first strip a is laid down on table I8, the carbon sheet laid on top, the extending portions e inserted through loops 38, as shown in Fig. 5, and strip b laid down over the carbon sheet. I-Iead piece 21 is then swung into locking engagement with member IT, as shown in Fig. 1. Where a fanfolded record strip is used, a difierent manner of securing the carbon sheet between the ply is used, and the form of holding means shown in Figs. 7 and 9 have substantial advantages. As there shown, I provide a carbon holder having a plate portion 55, slightly spaced parallel blades 56, extending therefrom in the plane of the plate, short-spaced prongs 51 bent downwardly at right angles to the plate, and a curved finger piece 58. As best shown in Fig. 9, the top edge of the carbon sheet 0 is threaded upwardly between the blades and the body of the sheet brought around the upper edge of the upper blade and laid down over the blades, as clearly shown in said figure. The carbon is then inserted sidewise between the fanfolds, and prongs 51 are inserted in the slot 40 to position the holder against loop 38, as shown in Fig. '7. Piece 58 facilitates insertion and removal of the holder. It will be understood that if the strip has a number of plies made by fanfolding, the holders for successive carbons will be positioned alternately in the slots 4!) on opposite sides of the table. It will also be obvious that where the strip is made up of both separate and fanfolded plies, carbon sheets, as shown in Fig. 8, may be used with the separate plies, and the holder of Fig. 9 for the fanfolded plies, since the spacing of prongs 51 permits the extensions e to pass between them and though the loops 38. The carbon sheets are either cut away at their bottom. edges, as indicated in dotted lines at 49, or do not extend to the free ends of the strips, so that the latter can be grasped without including the carbon sheets in the gripped portion. Grasping of the strip ends is facilitated by countersinking the table l8 adjacent the ends of the trip, as indicated at 48.

The operation of the device as a whole will perhaps be best understood from the diagrammatic Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive. In these figures, the pack is shown made up of three-ply zigzag folded record strips, each fold forming a complete set of sales slips, s0 that the fold defines the end of one set of slips and the beginning of another. In accordance with usual practice, the plies may be perforated or otherwise weakened at the folds. In Fig. 10, parts of the device are shown in normal position and indicated by their appropriate reference characters. The three record strips are indicated at Eli and the interposed carbon sheets at 61, the strips and sheets being shown spaced from. each other for the sake of clearness. The plies are shown threaded through space 44 (the width of which is greatly exaggerated to allow for the spaced showing of the strips), and are laid in position on the table l8 ready for the entry of a sale. After completion of the entry on the exposed set of slips, the free ends of the strips are grasped together below the ends of the carbon sheets and a pull exerted thereon in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 11. With the parts in the position of Fig. 10, the fold 62 of the strips is snugly engaged on the upper or head end of the table l8, and the first effect of the pull on the strips is to swing the table l8 upwardly in a parallel movement against the action of spring 43 to the position shown in Fig. 11. In this position, space 44 has been moved to a position substantially vertically above the head end of the pack, as defined by stop member 42. Also, by the increased spacing between table [8 and the bottom l5 of the magazine, the succeeding portion of the record strip has been partially drawn from the pack, and the angle of the fold 62 about the edge of the table has been increased, loosening the grip of the fold on the edge of the table. Because of this loosening and the action of bead 46, the continuing pull on the strips, plate 24 being in engagement with stop 42, frees the fold from the edge of the table, as shown in Fig. 12. The table I8 then drops at least partially back under the influence of the spring 43. Continued pull on the record strip brings a new set of slips into position on the table, as shown in Fig. 13. The completion of movement of a new set of slips to position is marked by the engagement of the succeeding fold 62 with the edge of the table, with an increased resistance of the strips which will again cause the table to rise, if the pull is persisted in, thus signaling the operator that the renewal of the slip is completed. Upon release of the pull, the parts return to the position of Fig. 10, the used slips are detached, and the device is ready for the next entry.

It will be observed that the device of my invention has many advantages. It is small and compact, so that it may be carried in a pocket when not in use. The insertion of a pack in the magazine, the mounting of carbon sheets, and. the arrangement of the strips on the writing table are simple operations and may be quickly and easily accomplished. The locking of the strips on a fold at the head end of the upper member or writing table, insures an absolute registration of all the sheets in each set, so that the data on the underneath sheets is accurately placed in relation to the printed forms on those sheets.

It is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particular form herein shown and described, since it may be embodied in other constructions within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a manifolding device of the character described, a pair of opposed channel members arranged in superposed relation, head and foot plates connecting said members together at their ends, and forming a parallel linkage between the members, said head' plate being releasably connected to the upper channel member by a head piece hinged to said head plate and provided with catches releasably connecting the head piece to the upper channel member, said head piece having a lip portion extending in spaced relation over the outer face of the upper channel member when connected thereto by said catches, a stop member secured to the lower channel member to position a multi-ply zigzag folded pack of sales slip forming strips between the channel members, the head edge of the upper channel member being cut away to permit the passage of the leading ends of the strips around said edge and beneath said lip to operative position on the upper channel member with said edge in engagement with a fold of the strips, a spring normally holding the channel members in substantial contact with each other with the upper member offset lengthwise with respect to the lower memher, said spring being yieldable to permit upward parallel movement of the upper channel member by the act of pulling on the free ends of the strips to bring the fold engaging edge of the upper member into substantial vertical alignment with the head edge of the strip pack, and simultaneously bring the head plate into contact with said stop to prevent further movement of the upper plate, whereby further pulling of the strips releases the engaged fold from the edge of the upper channel member with an accompanying release of tension and the at least partial return of the upper channel member to normal position under the action of the spring until the succeeding fold moves into engagement with the fold engaging edge of the upper channel member.

2. In a manifolding device, upper and lower members forming a two-part magazine for holding a pack of zigzag folded record strips, head and foot plates connecting said members together at their ends and forming a parallel linkage between said members, and a spring for normally holding said members in engaging position, the upper of said members being out way at its head end to provide a free transverse edge around which said strips may be drawn from said maga- Zine and laid over the top face of said upper member in writing position, said edge serving, when engaged by a fold in said strips, to lock said strips against forward movement until such time as said upper member is, by a pull on the ends of said strips, raised from said lower member sufficiently to release said fold.

3. In a manifolding device, upper and lower parallel members forming a two-part magazine for holding a pack of zigzag folded record strips, head and foot plates connecting said members together at their ends and forming a parallel linkage between the members for maintaining their parallel relation when the upper member is raised from the lower member, and a spring for normally holding said two members in engaging position, the upper of said members being cut away at its head end to provide a free transverse edge around which said strips may be drawn from said magazine and laid over the top face of said upper member in writing position, said edge serving, when engaged by a fold in said strips, to register said strips with each other and to lock them against forward movement until such time as said upper member is, by a pull on the ends of said strips, raised from said lower member sufficiently to release said fold.

4. In a manifolding device, upper and lower parallel channeled members forming a two-part magazine for holding a pack of zigzag folded record strips, said upper member being adapted to serve as a writing table, head and foot plates connecting said members together at their ends and forming a parallel linkage between the members for maintaining their parallel relation when the upper member is raised from the lower member, and a spring for normally holding said two members in engaging position, the upper of said members having at its head end a free transverse edge around which said strips may be drawn from said magazine and laid over the top face of said upper member in writing position, said edge serving, when engaged by a fold in said strips, to register said strips with each other and to lock them against forward movement until such time as said upper member is, by a pull on the ends of said strips, raised from said lower member sufficiently to release said fold.

5. In a manifolding device, upper and lower parallel channeled members forming a two-part magazine for holding a pack of zigzag folded record strips, head and foot plates connecting said members together at their ends and forming a parallel oblique linkage between the members for maintaining said two members in parallel relation when separated, and a spring for normally holding said two members in engaging position, the upper of said members being cut away at its head end to provide a free transverse edge around which said strips may be drawn from said magazine and laid over the top face of said upper member in writing position, said edge serving, when engaged by a fold in said strips, to register said strips with each other and to lock: them against forward movement until such time as said upper member is, by a pull on the ends of said strips, raised from said lower member sufficiently to release said fold.

6. In a manifolding device, upper and lower channeled members forming a two-part magazine for holding a pack of zigzag folded record strips, head and foot plates hinged to said members for connecting them together at their ends, said plates forming a parallel oblique linkage between said members permitting said upper mem ber to be raised from said lower member to expand the magazine, and a spring for normally holding said two members in engaging position, the upper of said members being cut away at its head end to provide a free transverse edge around which said strips may be drawn from said magazine and laid over the top face of said upper member in writing position, said edge serving, when engaged by a fold in said strips, to register said strips with each other and to lock them against forward movement until such time as said upper member is, by a pull on the ends of said strips, raised from said lower member sufiiciently to release said fold.

7. In a manifolding device, the combination of upper and lower channeled members forming a two-part magazine for holding a pack of zigzag folded record strips, said members being offset longitudinally when in engaging position, link elements connecting said two members at their ends for permitting said upper member to be raised from said lower member, and a spring for normally holding said two members in engaging position, the upper of said members being cut away at its head end to provide a free transverse edge around which said strips may be drawn from said magazine and laid over the top face of said upper member in writing position, said edge serving, when engaged by a fold in said strips, to register said strips with each other and to lock them again forward movement until such time as said upper member is, by a pull on the ends of said strips, raised from said lower member sufficiently to release said fold.

8. In a manifolding device, the combination of upper and lower members forming a two-part magazine for holding a pack of zigzag folded record strips, a head piece overlapping the head end of said upper member in spaced relation therewith and detachably fastened thereto, a foot plate connecting said members together at their foot ends, a head plate connecting the upper end of said lower member with said head piece, said plates serving as parallel links, and a spring for normally holding said two members in engaging position and in offset relation longitudinally, the upper of said members being cut away at its head end to provide a free transverse edge around which said strips may be drawn from said magazine and laid over the top face of said upper member in writing position, said edge serving, when engaged by a fold in said strips, to register said strips with each other and to lock them against forward movement until such time as said upper member is, by a pull on the ends of said strips, raised from said lower member sufficiently to release said fold.

9. In a manifolding device, the combination of upper and lower parallel members forming a two-part magazine for holding a pack of zigzag folded record strips, a spring for normally holding said members in engaging position with their ends offset, a head piece overlapping the head end of said upper member in spaced relation therewith and detachably fastened thereto, a foot plate hinged to the foot ends of said members for connecting said ends together, a head plate connecting the head end of said lower member with said head piece, said plates forming a parallel linkage between said members, permitting said upper member when sufficient force is applied to be raised from said lower member to expand said magazine while maintaining its parallel relation with said lower member, said upper member when detached from said head piece being movable pivotally for opening said magazine to permit loading thereof.

10. In a manifolding device, the combination of upper and lower parallel channeled members in engagement with each other and having their ends offset longitudinally, said members forming a two-part magazine for holding a pack of zigzag folded record strips, parallel link elements connecting said two members together at their ends permitting said upper member to be raised into longitudinal alignment with said lower member for expanding said magazine and a spring for normally holding said members in engaging posi tion, the upper of said members being cut away at its head end to provide a free transverse edge around which said strips may be drawn from said magazine and laid over the top face of said upper member in writing position, said edge serving, when engaged by a fold in said strips, to register said strips and to lock them against forward movement until such time as said upper member is, by a pull on the ends of said strips, raised from said lower member sufficiently to release said fold, said upper member at its head end being detachable from the link element at said end to permit said upper member to be moved pivotally for opening said magazine to permit loading thereof.

GEORGE U. LA CROIX. 

